All posts by h716a5.icu

The plays of the day from the fourth and final day at the Wanderers

Andrew McGlashan in Johannesburg17-Jan-2010Servers down
The queues were snaking around the Wanderers in the morning but there were few people inside. It soon became clear why. The servers which dealt with the ticket machines, and over which the ground had no control, crashed which meant that the punters couldn’t be processed. Thankfully, in a superb piece of pro-active thinking, the ground authorities threw open the gates and allowed the fans in for free. It was a fine gesture and allowed the home supporters to witness their team’s crushing victory.Catching practice
Each day before play, the slip fielders go through a routine when someone, normally the coach, feeds them catches off the face of the bat to simulate match conditions. Jacques Kallis may have felt he was still in that mode when Ian Bell virtually guided the ball to him at second slip and Kallis was never going to grass such a simple chance. It was something of an old-style Bell dismissal but, on this occasion, he shouldn’t be lambasted for a limp shot. He has done more than most England batsman to make this series into a contest.Hello, goodbye
With England five-down and tottering, Matt Prior was only going to play one way – and it wasn’t going to be a Paul Collingwood-style rearguard. He could have gone first-ball when he clipped Morne Morkel off his pads, but Hashim Amla couldn’t pull off his second stunning catch of the match. Next ball, though, there was no reprieve as he went for an expansive pull and the top-edge flew backwards over the keeper and slips. Both Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher began to back-pedal and it was the South Africa captain who gleefully accepted the chance.Daryl gets it right
It was hold-your-breath time when Smith called for a review after Stuart Broad was given not out for a catch down the leg side. Guess who was back under the spotlight? Thankfully, for Daryl Harper, the volume didn’t become the deciding factor as replays showed a clear deflection off Broad’s glove, but he took his time to rock-and-roll the pictures just to make doubly sure. This one was definitely out and as Harper relayed the news to Tony Hill, Broad couldn’t help but have a wry smile on his face, as he gestured to his armguard. He probably knew he’d gloved it, but given the match this match has gone, he might have thought he’d get away with it.Late spin
South Africa didn’t pick a frontline spinner for this match and, with England subsiding in the second innings, it didn’t look like they were in need of any slow stuff. Then, however, JP Duminy was thrown the ball and he enhanced his reputation as a bit of a golden arm when, with his first delivery, Paul Collingwood picked out deep square-leg. Duminy looked a little embarrassed, Mickey Arthur wore a broad grin on the dressing room balcony and all Collingwood could do was look forlornly at the crease. After a quick change of ends Duminy wrapped up victory by bowling Ryan Sidebottom. Perhaps he should have bowled sooner.

[ad_pod ]

It is funny how quickly things can change.

When Fernando Llorente missed an incredible chance to register against Watford on Wednesday night, the Tottenham Hotspur fans may have thought it was going to be another one of those nights for the Spaniard.

The 33-year-old is currently being tasked with leading the line in the absence of Harry Kane, which is not exactly the easiest thing in the world.

Overall, Llorente had a difficult night against Watford, but there proved to be a fairytale ending for the former Athletic Bilbao man as he netted an 87th-minute winner in Spurs’ 2-1 victory.

As expected, there were wild celebrations when Llorente registered and it could well be a turning point for the Spaniard, who was linked with an exit this month by The Daily Mail in December.

The Tottenham fans did a flip when Llorente – earning £75,000 a week according to Spotrac – scored the winner, with a large number taking to social media to lavish praise on the centre-forward.

A selection of the reaction from the club’s supporters can be seen below:

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas which Arsenal players would get into the Tottenham team ahead of the North London Derby – Check out the video below…

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, has said indiscipline, a lack of mental strength and demoralising tactics by the coach Intikhab Alam were responsible for Pakistan’s poor show on the tour of Australia

Cricinfo staff20-May-2010Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, has said indiscipline, a lack of mental strength and demoralising tactics by the then coach Intikhab Alam were responsible for Pakistan’s poor show on the tour of Australia. Afridi – whose statements were revealed on the leaked video of the PCB committee hearings – was questioned about the possibility of match-fixing during that winless tour but he denied knowing any player who deliberately under-performed.When asked if the defeats against Australia were deliberate, and if there was a specific member of the team who lost the match intentionally, Afridi said: “If you watch all the matches we have played recently, we have not been beaten in the matches, we have given away those matches. I think the reason is that we are not mentally strong. We had decided in our heads that we cannot beat Australia even before the match had started.”I have heard from others that such things (deliberately losing) exist but I do not know of any such player myself.”Afridi was also asked if the players were playing for themselves, and he replied: “As far as the fielding is concerned, we do very well in the practice sessions but we have a few players who perform well with the bat and then do not concentrate while fielding. They stand near the boundary, sign autographs and talk to girls. I have my eye on a few such players.”Afridi also complained of not being told in advance of his being made captain during the ODI series against Australia. Mohammad Yousuf had led Pakistan in the first four games and Afridi filled in for the last one. “I told our coach Intikhab Alam very clearly to tell me well in advance if I were to captain the team in the ODIs against Australia,” he said. “But I was still made the captain only 40 minutes before the match.”The coach was blamed for contributing to the team’s demoralisation, as Intikhab was shown to have placed little confidence in his team. “Even as I prepared to go for the toss, undue pressure was put on me to win the toss,” Afridi said. “And I was told we will win the match only if we win the toss. I told Alam, he should not demoralise the players. I am sure comments like those can be avoided.”Yawar Saeed [the manager] is a disciplinarian and we need to ensure people like him enforce strict discipline in the team. No one should be spared.”He also called on the selection committee to appoint captains for longer tenures, of at least a year. “Also, the selection committee needs to give the captain of the team a longer run. Whoever is made captain should be allowed a stint for at least a year.”

Bayern Munich won’t be making a move for Leeds United winger Raphinha this month or in the summer, according to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Festive rumours

Raphinha has comfortably been the club’s best-performing player this season, as per WhoScored, missing just two of Leeds’ 19 Premier League fixtures.

The 24-year-old, who Paul Merson said is ‘full of energy’, is the Whites’ top scorer with eight, and his impressive displays led to rumours of a move to Munich.

Reports claimed around Christmas that the Brazilian winger would join Bayern in January in a deal worth €50m (£41.8m). However, it seems as if that is not the case, with Leeds keen to open talks with Raphinha over a new Elland Road contract.

The Latest: Plettenberg’s latest

Plettenberg provided a pretty huge update regarding Bayern’s reported interest in Raphinha and Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek on Twitter.

Here’s what the Sky Sports man had to say, claiming the German giants will ‘definitely’ not be making swoops over the current and summer windows.

“Update Raphinha/van de Beek: Both players are definitely no topic for FC Bayern – neither in this transfer window nor in summer.”

The Verdict: New contract required

Phil Hay recently revealed that Raphinha’s current salary is a ‘fairly modest’ one by Premier League standards and behind Leeds’ biggest earners.

Although Bayern won’t be making any moves for the wide man anytime soon, a huge boost all-round, Leeds could still do with rewarding Raphinha for his impressive displays with an improved contract.

By doing that, they could include various clauses while also bumping up his weekly wage, which should please all parties involved.

In other news: Orta now eyeing Leeds move for 6 ft 3 beast who stopped Ronaldo; he’s keen on a January switch.

Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United will face each other in thrilling showdowns during their pre-season tours in the United States this summer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

PL powerhouses to head to the USA Will lock horns against each other in pre-season friendlies Arteta "looking forward" to Stateside return GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

The action-packed schedule kicks off with a high-profile encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United at the iconic SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 27. Next up, Liverpool will square off against Arsenal at the historic Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on July 31 and this clash promises to be a spectacle as two of England's footballing giants battle it out on American soil.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The excitement will continue as Liverpool will make their way to South Carolina to take on Manchester United at the prestigious Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on August 3. This match marks Liverpool's return to the U.S. after a hiatus of five years, which will further fuel the excitement and anticipation of supporters who are eager to witness their favourite team in action. Chelsea and Manchester City will also cross the Atlantic during the 2024-25 pre-season and will go head-to-head in Columbus, Ohio.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

For Manchester United, this tour presents an opportunity to strengthen their bond with their American fanbase. Manchester United's football director John Murtough said: "The popularity of English football is continuously growing in the US, and we’ve come to expect passionate and enthusiastic support from our U.S. fan base. They didn’t disappoint last year and everyone at the club is looking forward to reconnecting with those fans again this summer.”

Whereas, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: "Our tour last year was a real success and it’s always an amazing experience to play in front of our passionate supporters in the US. We’re looking forward to returning and seeing everyone again.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Before they embark on their journey to the United States, the three English giants will be looking to excel in their respective domestic and European commitments. Jurgen Klopp's men are on the brink of lifting their first silverware of the season as they are set to lock horns with Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. Whereas, Arsenal and United will be in action in the Premier League against Newcastle United and Fulham respectively on Saturday. on Saturday.

Cameron White has said the Pakistan series is “fantastic preparation” for the upcoming World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2012Australia may have already lost the Twenty20 series against Pakistan, but their middle-order batsman Cameron White has said the series is “fantastic preparation” for the upcoming World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. Australia collapsed to 89 all out in the first T20 but turned in an improved performance in the second, going down on the last delivery of the Super Over.”We’d like to be winning, we made great steps from the first game to the second,” White said, a day ahead of the third T20 in Dubai. “We are heading in the right direction, and from a prep point of view this is fantastic.”The conditions in Dubai have been helping spinners, with Pakistan packing the side with three/four slow bowlers. White said the testing series would hold Australia in good stead in the World T20. “I don’t think you can ask any more than what we are experiencing at the moment (in terms of preparations),” he said. “I know we are experiencing very tough conditions, very similar conditions to what we are going to experience in Sri Lanka, and against very good bowlers.”White was also pleased with the amount of matches Australia were getting to fine-tune their World T20 strategies. “The way the Twenty20 game is set up internationally, it is just two games at the back of a Test and ODI series. You come in for two games and then you might not play again for a month, two, three or six months,” he said. “(Here) we are playing three games in a row, we have two more warm-up matches, five solid games leading into a big tournament.”Despite Australia’s series defeat against Pakistan, and just one victory in five previous T20 matches, White said his team was “definitely looking to win” the World T20. “We finished second in the last [World] T20, Australia traditionally have a good record in big tournaments, so I think we are a good chance going into the tournament.”The loss on Friday pushed Australia down to tenth place in the ICC’s T20 rankings, though White was confident his side’s position would improve after the world event. “We know where we are ranked, you lose a game you go down two or three spots. We haven’t been winning enough games, so that’s why are down there,” he said. “Things can change around quickly, if we get a couple of wins under our belt, start winning in the World T20, we could easily shoot back up, and if we win it there’s no arguments to say we are not the No. 1 in the world.”

Kevin Campbell has been giving his thoughts to Celtic’s reported swoop for Kawasaki Frontale star Reo Hatate, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Hatate move edges closer…

It seems as if Ange Postecoglou and Michael Nicholson are making progress when it comes to potential January additions.

Celtic are thought to have agreed on deals for both Yosuke Ideguchi and Hatate, with previous reports claiming that the latter could arrive before the club’s 2022 winter training camp.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-19/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Hatate’s contract with his J1 League employers expires at the end of January, but with an agreement seemingly in place, it appears as if Celtic could pay a cut-price fee to sign him as soon as the winter window opens.

The Latest: Campbell’s comments

Campbell, who regularly features on Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding the agreement with Kawasaki Frontale for Hatate.

He backed the Hoops to make a ‘big profit’ on the versatile midfielder in the future, labelling a move now as ‘smart’, saying:

“It’s smart management.

“Looking at Japan, they have made some moves there and they have already paid off.

“There is talent there, just like there is talent everywhere. The key is, can you tap into it?

“It’s a market Celtic are pretty comfortable with right now. It’s affordable too, which is also key.

“They can only enhance their playing staff by recruiting from there. When the time does come to sell them on, I expect they will sell them on at a big profit.”

The Verdict: Postecoglou playing the market perfectly

Postecoglou didn’t go all-in when it came to the Japanese market in his first transfer window with Celtic.

His only addition from the Far East was Kyogo Furuhashi, though his £4.86m switch to Parkhead has proven to be an inspired one, with the forward contributing to 19 goals already this season.

You’d expect that the Hoops could easily make a huge profit on Furuhashi if any clubs came calling, and after reaping the rewards, it makes sense to dip into the market again with cut-price moves for Ideguchi and Hatate in a league that Postecoglou knows well.

Daizen Maeda could also be another reported Celtic target to swap Japan for Scotland, so it could be a busy start to the New Year for the Hoops.

In other news: Devlin claims ‘special’ Celtic ace may have broken bone amid ‘conflicting’ info. 

Argentina U17 starlet Claudio Echeverri recreated a Lionel Messi-esque finish to complete his hat-trick against rivals Brazil in the U-17 World Cup.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Echeverri recreated Messi's 2012 finish Both players scored a hat-trick in their respective matchesBrazil at the receiving end on both occasions WHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine U17 starlet scored an incredible hat-trick in a win over Brazil to fire his side into the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Jakarta on Friday. He opened the scoring with a brilliant sole attempt just minutes before the half-hour mark and then doubled the lead in the 59th minute with a tight finish from the edge of the box. Whereas, his third goal was the cherry on the top as it not only helped him complete a hat trick but also closely resembled a 2012 finish of Messi. On both occasions, the forwards dribbled past the keeper and then pushed the ball into an empty net after latching onto a defence-splitting through ball from midfield.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIP@ArgentinaTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Echeverri's goal has some other uncanny similarities to Messi's strike over a decade back. Apart from the electric finish, both players wore the No. 10 shirt during their respective matches and Brazil found themselves at the receiving end of such a genius onslaught. In fact, Echeverri's hat trick was the first since Messi's 2012 heroics against their arch-rivals. Back in his homeland, comparisons are already being made with the 2022 World Cup winner but Echeverii believes that his style is more like Pablo Aimar who is a part of the national team staff.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Doc. LOC WCU17/BRYWHAT NEXT FOR ECHEVERRI?

The River Plate starlet will hope to carry on with his rich vein of form in the remaining two matches of the U-17 World Cup and emulate Messi by lifting the trophy in the finale on December 2.

The U.S. men's national team allowed a late equalizer to Gareth Bale in an action-packed 1-1 draw on Monday.

For much of Monday's World Cup opener, the USMNT's young stars shined bright as could be. If the players were nervous, they didn't show it. They played like a team determined, a team more than ready for an occasion that many thought would be overwhelmed.

It never did. The Stars and Stripes never were overmatched and certainly weren't outplayed, but they dropped points anyway. So it goes at a World Cup.

And so it goes when the other team has Gareth Bale, a man for the big occasion. There are no events bigger than a World Cup, so of course Bale would make his mark.

He erased Tim Weah's first-half opener and, more importantly, erased a USMNT performance that could be categorized as dominant.

Domination doesn't equal points, though, a lesson the young USMNT learned on Monday night.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

WINNER: Wales fans

If this sport was based on passion alone, Wales would be lifting the World Cup.

What a night this was for Welsh fans. Hours before kickoff, they were loud and proud, singing, dancing, celebrating. And why wouldn't they? They've waited 64 years for this moment.

There were families in attendance, young and old scattered throughout the crowd celebrating the country's first World Cup in a generation.

The singing? Spectacular. The national anthem? Spine-tingling. The pure emotion of it all? Unmatched.

This is what the World Cup is about: a country full of people coming together to love something bigger than themselves.

And when that Bale goal hit, what a sound. They deserved the celebration. They waited long enough for it.

WINNER: Tim Weah

Take away the goal for just a second, we'll get back to that.

Let's start with Weah's overall play and how he fits with this USMNT. He knows his role so, so well and, against Wales, he executed it to perfection.

With Christian Pulisic cutting in on the other side and Sergino Dest cutting in next to him, Weah's job is to offer that downfield option and keep the defense stretched. He did that, and then got a goal for good measure. His diagonal run was picture-perfect. His finish was, too. The knee side celebration could use some work but, hey, it was his first World Cup goal.

It was also USMNT's first World Cup goal in eight years, and it sent the stadium into a frenzy. It was a deserved one from the attacker that deserved it most.

Weah had been keeping Wales honest all half and, finally, the defense folded. You couldn't ask for much more from him.

WINNER: Gareth Bale

Just when you thought it wouldn't happen, it did, in fact happen. How could anyone doubt Gareth Bale?

He'd been shackled all night, with the USMNT midfield strangling him for nearly the entire game. But then, the moment, the one he needed.

Walker Zimmerman went right through him in the box and the whole world knew what would happen next. He absolutely smashed the ball into the back of the net for the World Cup goal his country waited so long for.

He's not the old Bale by a long shot. He looked nothing like it tonight. But who cares? He's still big-game Bale, and he did it again.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

LOSER: Walker Zimmerman

It was all going so well.

The USMNT was seemingly on its way to victory. The team had a 1-0 lead and despite some Wales threats, the U.S. was doing just fine.

And then Zimmerman went straight through Bale and everything changed.

He had done little wrong prior, but that won't be what matters. What matters is one moment, and it ultimately decided the game.

One penalty, one goal and two points dropped. It'll be a tough one to take for Zimmerman and the USMNT.

LOSER: USMNT's hopes of advancing

It was right there for the Stars and Stripes. They seemingly had it and were well on their way to a result that would have made this all seem easier.

Now, though, the U.S. will need to grind their way out of the group.

A win would have made the road much, much easier. With England looming, the U.S. would know that a result in the final game against Iran would almost certainly be enough. Now, a result in that final game may be a necessity.

It'll all be tough to stomach for the U.S. as the road has just become a bit harder. Any points against England would be a major benefit, but you can't expect that. And that means it may all come down to Iran and, ultimately, goal differential.

Buckle up, USMNT fans. This one was a stomach-turner, but it's only the start.

LOSER: Yellow cards

For a bit, it looked like the Oprah meme.

"You get a yellow! You get a yellow! You get a yellow!"

The cautions came thick and fast for the USMNT, which now see a few key players walking the line heading into the second game. Suspensions are suddenly a real risk at several spots after a quick flurry of yellows.

Sergino Dest was the first to get booked for a slightly soft foul on Neco Williams in the 11th minute. And then the Wales fullback drew a card for Weston McKennie just two minutes later. Ream was handed one too early in the second half, putting a slight damper on an otherwise spectacular performance.

Wales wasn't exempt either, with Bale and Chris Mepham drawing cards.

Several of those cards were deserved, several weren't. The referee had a tough game overall, with several calls igniting the crowd's ire. But both teams now will see key players in a tough spot heading into their second game.

Getty ImagesUSMNT ratings: Defense

Matt Turner (6/10):

Had little to do aside from one nice save. Nothing he could do on the Bale penalty.

Antonee Robinson (6/10):

Got forward well and created. Solid performance.

Tim Ream (8/10):

An absolute rock at the back. Was close to perfect aside from the yellow.

Walker Zimmerman (5/10):

The penalty ruined the day, even if he had been playing well before it.

Sergino Dest (6/10):

Was his typical self, cutting in and keeping the defense honest. Largely mistake-free.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesMidfield

Tyler Adams (6/10):

Broke up play well enough but, like the rest of the midfield, was a bit quieter in the second half as Wales pushed forward.

Weston McKennie (6/10):

Plenty of bite, but little substance. Didn't quite have that game-changing impact we all know he has.

Yunus Musah (7/10):

Showed why he can be essentially unstoppable. Was so good on the turn and put Wales in some really bad positions.

France's conveyor belt of young talent paid off in the summer as Les Bleus lifted the World Cup – but who are the stars of the future?

Getty1Timothy Weah (PSG)

It’s not easy making a breakthrough as a young player into one of the world’s biggest clubs, but Timothy Weah, son of former Ballon d’Or winner George, is threatening to do just that. He turned out three times for PSG last season, playing 122 minutes in total, and in the Trophee des Champions clash with Monaco last week he notched his first senior goal and played the full 90 minutes. The USA international, just 18, is beginning to justify the hype.

AdvertisementGetty2Martin Terrier (Lyon)

Perhaps no one has caught the eye in pre-season quite as much as Lyon attacker Martin Terrier. OL swooped to sign the 21-year-old from Strasbourg last January before loaning him immediately back to the club to finish the campaign. He impressed with Racing, scoring three times and creating four more in Ligue 1 but suffered from injuries in the second half of the season. He appears to have hit the ground running at Parc OL and should supplement the likes of Nabil Fekir, Mariano Diaz and Memphis Depay nicely.

Getty Images3Oumar Solet (Lyon)

Centre-back has been a problem position for Lyon for several seasons now and they are hopeful that 18-year-old Oumar Solet can one day grow into the player to finally act as a solution. Signed from third-tier Laval in the summer for little more than €500,000, he could prove one of the bargains of the summer. Bruno Genesio has already given him game time in pre-season, where he looked comfortable against Inter in a 1-0 friendly defeat.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Gettyimages4Stanley N’Soki (PSG)

It’s not certain that 19-year-old Stanley N’Soki (pictured left) will still be at Paris Saint-Germain when the season begins, as the likes of Arsenal, Marseille and especially Newcastle hover. He is not yet tied down to a professional deal, but one imagines that after his impressive display against Monaco in the Trophee des Champions it has to be a top priority. He impressed down the left for the Ligue 1 champions on his full senior bow, even lending an assist, yet his more natural position is centre-back.